[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 149 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           H.R. 2250 AND 2681

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, in 1990, the Clean Air Act Amendments 
required EPA to complete and issue regulations on hazardous air 
pollutants by 2000. This week, we considered two bills that would delay 
two regulations for at least another six years--with no deadline for 
EPA to complete these regulations and giving industry no deadline to 
comply. Enacting these bills combines continued air pollution with true 
regulatory uncertainty.
  H.R. 2250 and H.R. 2681 targeted regulations that would reduce 
emissions from two of the dirtiest industries in the country--cement 
kilns and industrial boilers--when most other industries already adhere 
to similar Clean Air Act regulations. Together, the two regulations 
eliminated by these bills would save 9,100 American lives every year 
and yield $17 to $43 in health care savings for every dollar spent 
reducing emissions under the new standards. Both bills require EPA to 
throw out work it has already completed and start over. Both bills add 
to the deficit and fail to comply with the Republican cut-go policy. 
Both bills gut EPA's authority to require the most protective standard 
(MACT--Maximum Achievable Control Technology) and replace it with a 
requirement to select the least burdensome standard, specifically 
including ``work practice'' standards, which are merely a requirement 
to keep equipment in working order. Both bills sacrifice public health 
to private industry profit.
  I strongly oppose both H.R. 2250 and H.R. 2681. Unfortunately, I was 
unable to be in Washington on October 6, 2011 to vote against them. Had 
I been able, I would have voted against both H.R. 2250 and H.R. 2681.

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